Board of Directors
G. Raymond Chang – Chairman
As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mercatus, Ray is responsible for driving the overall direction, vision and corporate strategy of the company.
Ray also serves on the Board of Directors of CI Financial (TSE:CIX). In his 18 years at CI, Raymond oversaw the company's growth from a small money manager with $5 million in assets to Canada's second-largest fund company with more than $92 billion in fee-earning assets. He joined CI as Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer in 1984 from Coopers & Lybrand, where he was Manager of Emerging Business Services. He was promoted to President and COO of CI in 1994, when the firm went public. Two years later, he became President and Chief Executive Officer. Raymond was appointed Chairman in 1999.
Ray holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Toronto. He is a passionate advocate for education and has been a member of Ryerson University’s Board of Governors since 2001. In 2006, Ray was named Chancellor of Ryerson University. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is named in honor of his generous support. In 2010, Ray became the recipient of the 2010 Outstanding Philanthropist award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Toronto Chapter.
George Horhota - Director
George, a corporate / communications lawyer, is a Principal with Accelerator Strategies Inc, a firm that counsels companies on M&A strategies. He is also a Senior Industry Advisor to the European Bank for the Reconstruction and Development’s TurnAround Management Programme.
George has extensive experience with early-stage companies and mature corporations. He co-founded SuiteWorks Inc., a pioneer in collaborative office environments for mobile workforces, and served as President with Cannect Networks Inc. George’s executive-level experience includes a VP position with BCE Emergis; CFO of TSX-listed ACC TelEnterprises Ltd. and VP Corporate Development with ACC TelEnterprises’ NASDAQ-listed parent, ACC Corp. (now AT&T); and led the Royal Bank’s IT, telecom, cable and media loan portfolio.
George received a BA degree from the University of Guelph and a Juris Doctor degree (Faculty of Law) from the University of Toronto. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. George is an Advisory Board member of Canadian Cloud Computing Inc. and CCR Solutions Inc. He is a past board member of TSX-listed WiLAN Inc. and the Canadian Business Telecommunications Alliance (CBTA).
Andrew Pinkerton - Director
Andrew has over 15 years of experience working with technology companies and investors throughout North America. Having worked in investment banking, sell-side research, venture capital and in an early-stage software company, he has a broad set of experiences from which to draw when advising leaders in the technology industry.
Andrew is Vice President, Investments at GrowthWorks Capital and focuses on information technology investments. Prior to GrowthWorks, Andrew held positions with Workbrain; the Institutional Equity Research Groups at Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group, Deutsche Bank Technology Group, and PaineWebber Technology Group in San Francisco, CA; and the Investment Banking Division of Alex, Brown & Sons in Boston, MA.
Andrew graduated Cum Laude from Harvard College and received an MBA from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto. A sought-after advisor, Andrew also sits on the Board of Directors for Camilion Solutions, Covarity, Morega Systems, One Chip Photonics, Paymentus and Perspecsys, and is an observer on the Board of Directors of BTI Systems.
Rob Segal - Director
For over 20 years, Rob has been a leading North American marketing and communications specialist working with some of the World's most respected brands.
Founder of Segal Communications in 1994, Rob launched the original Sony PlayStation in 1996, Axe body spray and Virgin Mobile. His agency, Segal Communications rapidly grew into one of the largest experiential/promotional agencies in Canada and was acquired by Interpublic in 2000. Segal's client portfolio included brands such as: HP, Ford, Dreamworks, Unilever, Sony, Marvel, Party Poker, and Facebook to name just a few. The agency earned numerous awards and set the benchmark for many agencies that have followed since. Rob was honored with marketer of the year awards on three occasions and was the first Canadian to be invited to judge the newly created promo category at the Cannes Festival in 2007.
Rob left the agency in 2008 to join WorldGaming, which has since partnered with Richard Branson and is now known worldwide as Virgin Gaming. He serves as CEO. Rob is an avid musician, owns the legendary Kee to Bala concert hall in Muskoka, Ontario and serves on the board of Autism Speaks.
Bernie J. Nisker - Advisor
Bernie is a seasoned Chartered Accountant with 40+ years of executive-level experience. He holds a wide range of knowledge and financial experience in such diverse industries as retail, chemicals, film and entertainment. Bernie is knowledgeable in financing, acquisitions, divestitures, operations, auditing, accounting, tax, and more.
His experience includes tenures with reputable accounting firms such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cantol Limited, and Soberman LLP. He successfully led companies in the roles of CEO, COO, and CFO. He advised companies as a member of their board of directors and mentored young entrepreneurs throughout his career.
Bernie continues in his profession as a consultant to mid-market clients in various capacities of operations, banking, divestitures, and acquisitions.
All Rights Reserved